Protocol of Government House

Protocols and Processes

Honors and Awards

Order of Saint Lucia

Institution of the Order

The Order of Saint Lucia is an order of chivalry established in 1986 by Queen Elizabeth II. Commonly referred to as the Independence Anniversary Awards, the insignia of the Order are conferred on 22 February to citizens of Saint Lucia and other persons for achievement, acts of bravery or meritorious service.

The number of persons appointed in each class and division of the Order of Saint Lucia is set out in the Constitution of the Order of Saint Lucia, which explains the quota system used to confer the awards on an annual basis.

The King/Queen is Sovereign of the Order and the Governor-General is Chancellor. The Governor-General has the right to exercise all powers and authorities of the Sovereign in respect of the Order. The Governor-General bestows the Order on behalf of the Sovereign, on the advice of the Prime Minister.

The Private Secretary to the Governor-General is the Secretary of the Order and maintains the records of the Order, arranges for investitures and performs such other functions in respect of the Order as the Governor-General shall direct.

The Awards Committee reviews nominations and makes recommendations to the Prime Minister on the merit of each nomination received for consideration.

Classes of the Order of Saint Lucia

The Order comprises seven classes. In decreasing order of seniority, these are:

Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Lucia (GCSL)

Saint Lucia Cross (SLC)

Saint Lucia Medal of Honour (SLMH)

Saint Lucia Medal of Merit (SLMM)

Saint Lucia Les Pitons Medal (SLPM)

National Service Cross (NSC)

National Service Medal

Description of the Insignia of the Order of Saint Lucia

The riband of the Order is composed of vertical stripes of the colours blue, gold, black, and white. The riband, when worn with the insignia of the Grand Cross of Saint Lucia or the Saint Lucia Cross, is a width of two inches; and when worn with the insignia of the other Grades of the Order, it is the width of one and a half inches.

The Grand Cross is of Gold and the recipient is invested with a Star, and a Collar to which is affixed the Badge of the Order. Upon retirement from office of Governor-General the recipient is only entitled to wear the Star with the Badge of the Order suspended from the riband of the Order and worn round the neck.

The Saint Lucia Cross is awarded in Gold and is worn from the riband of the Order round the neck.

The Medal of Merit and the Medal of Honour are awarded in Gold and Silver.

The Les Pitons Medal is awarded in Gold, Silver and Bronze.

All of the medals are worn as a pendant from the riband of the Order from the left breast.

Precedence and Privileges

When worn in Saint Lucia the Insignia of the Order take precedence over all other decorations except the Victoria Cross and the George Cross. The first class of the Order, the Grand Cross, takes precedence over the first class of the Orders of Chivalry (i.e. Knight or Dame Grand Cross) and the second class of the Order, the Saint Lucia Cross, takes precedence over the second class of the Orders of Chivalry (i.e. Knight or Dame Commander).

Styles and Post-Nominals

Recipients of awards in the first class of the Order of Saint Lucia are granted the style (commonly called “title”) of “Excellency” and recipients of awards in the second class are granted the style of “Honourable”. The five other classes do not grant styles but all recipients of awards in the Order of Saint Lucia are entitled to append to their name letters signifying the award received. Thus:

Holders of the Grand Cross prefix "His Excellency" or "Her Excellency" to their forenames and use the post-nominal "GCSL".

Holders of the Saint Lucia Cross prefix "The Honourable" to their forenames and use the post-nominal "SLC".

The Grand Cross (GCSL) is the highest award of the Order and is only conferred on persons appointed to the Office of Governor-General, whilst the National Service Cross and Medal are awarded only to members of the Police Force, Fire and Prison Services and Commissioned Officers of the Cadet Corps.

The number of persons holding the Saint Lucia Cross cannot exceed 25 at any one time and no more than three people can be awarded the rank in any two successive years.

Awards in any grade of the Order below that of the Grand Cross may be made on an honorary basis to persons who are not citizens of Saint Lucia but they shall not become members of the Order.

The public may nominate persons of merit to the Order of Saint Lucia by completing and submitting for consideration the relevant nomination form obtained from the Secretary of the National Awards Committee